ABSTRACT

So why take photographs? What roles do photographs play in our life and relative to other

forms of expression or communication? Does a photographer have responsibilities? What is

actually involved? And what makes a result successful anyway? We will explore these issues and

some of photography’s possibilities over the course of this book, with the understanding that

photography is a combination of subjective thought, creative imagination, visual design,

technical skills, and practical organizing ability. Begin by taking a broad look at what making

photography is about, to put in to context and perspective your thoughts. On the one hand there

is the machinery and the techniques themselves, although try not to become obsessed with the

latest bit of equipment or absorbed in the craft detail too soon. On the other you have the variety

of approaches to picture-making – aiming for results ranging from documenting an event, or

communicating ideas to a particular audience, to work which is self-expressive, socially or

politically informed or perhaps more ambiguous and open to interpretation.